Interchangeable sign



May 12, 1931..

M. SEND 1,805,378

INTERCHANGEABLE SIGN Filed May 17, 1930 ATTO R NEYS INVENTOR Patente May12, 1931 MAURICE SEND, F DETROIT, GM

INTEEGHANGELE SIGN Application filed may 17, 1930. Serial 1 10. 458,148.

The present invention pertains to a novel interchangeable sign designedparticularly for use in connection with stores, restaurants, hotels andfor similar purposes.

The pring ipal object of the invention is to provide a sign which may bealtered at will by removing the characters and replacing them by otherswhenever desired. Accordingly, the invention comprises a backing and anassortment of characters adapted to be detachably supported bythebacking.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the backing has alongitudinal groove in the form ofia channel stamped from the backingmaterial. Each character carries one or more resilient members adaptedfor insertion in the channel only under tension, whereby the charactersare firmly held in position.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the followingdescription and in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is afront elevation of the device;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a erspective view of the letter;

Fig. 4 is a rent elevation of a modified constructicn;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 4L;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the letter shown in Figures 4 and 5;

Fig. '71 is a vertical section ot a modified term of letter;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a sign board; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of still another construction.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characterswhich are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figure 1 is illustrated a board or backing 1 having a longitudinalgroove or channel 2 stain ed therein along a longitudinal line preferaly midway between the edges. The back of the channel is parallel to themajor portion of the member 1, and the sides 3 of the channel convergetowards the member 1. An assortment of various characters is providedfor mounting on the board 1, and one of these characters is indicated bythe 50 numeral 4. The character may consist of a solid wood or otherrigid material properly shaped.

In the back of the character are embedded a suitable number of loopsembodying curved spring portions 5 projecting rearwardly from theletter. These loops are of slightly less width than the mouth of thechannel or groove 2, so that compression is required in inserting theloops into the groove. After the loops have passed the restricted mouth,so they are free to expand and avoid falling or dropping out of thegrooves. As shown in Figure 1, the channel may have its ends 6 open atthe ends of the board 1, whereby the loops may readily be inserted intothe grooves cs through the ends thereof.

in the construction shown in Figures 4:, 5 and 6, the backing 10 has atongue or lip 11 struck out therefrom in a mediam line and bentforwardly of the member 10 to provide a groove 12. Each of thecharacters 13 has a suitable number of notchesl l in the back thereof,with an overhanging lip 15 at the upper edge of the notch and adapted tobe received in the groove 12 to be supported by T the lip 11 asillustrated in Figure 5. As a modification in the letter, the character16 as shown in Figure 7 may be notched at 17 in the manner alreadydescribed but provided with a separate overhanging lip 18 anchored 8a inthe character at the upper edge of the notch.

Several of the backings 1 or 10 may be mounted in a frame 19 in parallelrelation as shown in Figure 8 to support several lines of characters 20,whereby an effective interchangeable sign is produced.

Still another construction is illustrated in Figure 9 wherein the back21 has a simple slot 22 cut parallel to the longitudinal edges thereof.The character 23 in this case carries a stub 24 with an enlarged head25. The slot is preferably formed at one or both of its ends with anenlarged opening (not shown) of suficient size to-admit the head 25,after' which the stud is slid into the principal portion of the slothaving the relative dimension illustrated in Figure 9.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have-been illustrated anddescribed,

it will be understood that various alterations in the details ofconstruction may be made Without departing from the scope-of theinvention, as indicated by the appended claim.

What I claim is In a sign, a back member having a longitudinal groove,the lateral walls of said groove converging towards the mouth thereof, acharacter, and a resilient loop projecting directly from the back ofsaid character, said loop having greater maximum width than the mouth ofsaid groove and receivable in said groove under tension, said loop beingentirely receivable in said groove whereby the back of said characterengages said back member.

In testimony whereof ll afix my signature.

ICE SEND.

